WHY AM I RUNNING?
If you know anything about me, you know I’m someone who digs deep to understand how things work. My older brother learned this the hard way when, at just five years old, I took apart his radio with a screwdriver and needle-nose pliers. This curiosity drives me to explore people, processes, and systems. It’s been a cornerstone of my career, even when it wasn’t welcomed by those who prefer the status quo. The current City Council may not have appreciated my consistent attendance and probing questions at meetings, nor my efforts to make their actions transparent. However, I believe transparency is essential for effective governance. A well-governed community listens to its residents and addresses their concerns. The City Council works for us, and I’m committed to working for you.
I want to see Greenfield grow, but not at the expense of our rural character. That means growing smart. We’re a community of roughly 1,300 property owners, with very little commercial tax base contributing to our city’s $2.2 million in tax revenues. With expected operating costs exceeding $2.8 million next year, the difference will have to come from a small state fund for cities under 5,000 residents (around $80k), along with licensing and permitting fees. This is not sustainable.
Any projects beyond basic operations are funded through assessments against property owners and tax levies. The Greenfield Road project is a prime example: the city engineer proposed a project far beyond our budget ($5.5 million), but because he secured a state grant covering $3 million, the council moved forward, funding the remaining costs through assessments and bonding over 15 years—50% from assessments, 50% from tax levies. Often, the assessment process is less about fair cost-sharing and more about financing projects the city engineer or council want to see enacted, even if it means sacrificing equity.
And this doesn’t even account for the water tower. Recent inspections revealed it needs new interior and exterior cleaning, coating, and painting, expected to cost the city another $1 million. But the city hasn’t planned ahead, nor do we have enough residents on city water to cover these costs. Once again, this will likely lead to another bond. The city’s current management approach seems to reach into residents’ pockets every time a need arises, rather than planning carefully. This constant tax increase diminishes our appeal to potential commercial developments, further exacerbating our financial challenges.
I have ideas to help our city function better for everyone. Below are some important ideas I bring to the table that I hope will start the conversation on how to improve our city’s management. I also want to hear your thoughts. I’ll be knocking on doors, getting to know you, and learning what you think is best for Greenfield.